Planooraph co



D. F. ASBURYQ PLUG OPERATING DEVICE FOR BREECH MECHANISMS;

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4, I916.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lr 'llllll THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n. C.

n. F. ASBURY.

PLUG OPERATING DEVICE FOR BREECH MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4. 19 16.

1,310,044. Patented July 15,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

wif'neooao I J4 mgm THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cn., WASHINGTON, D. c.

1 UNITED STATES. PATNT omuon.

DORSEY FROST ASBURY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIG-NOR TO UNITED STATES ORDNANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUM- BIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

PLUG-OPERATING DEVICE FOR BREECH MECHANISMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed February 14, 1916. Serial No. 78,136.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DORSEY F. ASBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain, new and useful Improvements in Plug-Operating Devices for Breech Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to plug operating devices for breech mechanisms.

, The objects of my invention are to provide power means whereby the breech mechanism may be locked when closed without slamming; to provide a motor acting directly on the plug to lock the same; to provide a fluid operated motor for moving the breech mechanism and a fluid operated plug locking motor adapted to utilize the fluid from the motor for moving the breech mechanism; to

provide a fluid operated motor on the breech mechanism for locking the plug and means for connecting said motor to a fluid supply as the mechanism approaches closed position; to provide a plug locking motor having free engagement with the plug so that the parts of the motor will remain at rest and the plug can move in advance of and away from the motor when the movement of the plug is effected by means independent of the motor; to provide a motor acting directly on the plug to move the latter to locked position and means for delaying the action of said motor; to provide a motor for imparting locking movement of the plug to accentuate and complete the locking move- I ment produced by cam devices provided to translate the energy of the moving mechanism to plug locking energy; to provide a motor for imparting locking movement to the plug and utilized in conjunction with energy translating cam devices together with means for delaying the action of the motor to render same ineffective when sufficient energy is imparted through the cam devices to move the plug to locked position; to provide means utilized in conjunction with energy translating cam devices to move the plug to locked position should the mechanism be swung home just far enough to bring the cam devices into initial coactive relation;

and to provide means for buffing the engagement between the motor and the plug when the action of the former is delayed and then subsequently becomes effective.

In the drawings chosen for the purpose of illustrating myinvention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a breech mechanism partly in section and embodying my invention, the parts of the mechanism being in the position they would occupy when the breech plug is moved to locked position by the plug operating motor;

Fig. 2, a plan view of what is shown in Fig. S1 with the fluid operated motor which moves the breech mechanism to closed position broken away;

gig. 3, a section onthe line 33 of Fig. 1, an

Fig. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings A indicates the gun, B the breech plug and C the hinged carrier. Rotatably mounted on the carrier C. is a crank shaft 10 operatively connected with a cross-head device 11 carried by the plug B and adapted to be rotated through the me dium of a handle 12 to effect rotation of the plug B, all as is well known and fully set forth in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,020,849 granted to George L. Smith and myself March 19, 1912. For the purpose of translating the swinging energy of the mechanism to plug rotating energy I provide the usual cam devices 13 and 14, the former of which is mounted on the gun and the latter on the breech plug. To swing the breech mechanism to closed position I provide a fluid operated motor D which includes a cylinder 15 pivoted on the gun A and a piston 16 connected to the carrier O at 17. This motor is operated to swing the breech mechanism closed in the manner fully described in my copending application filed 'June 30, 1914, and serially numbered 848,229. Threaded in the lower side of the cylinder 15 at the free end thereof and communicating with the interior of the cylinder is a pipe section 18 having its lower end enlarged to form a valve housing 19in which is mounted a valve 20 normally held in closed position by a spring 21. It will be noted that this valve 20 is in the form of a tubular member and slides through the lateral opening 22 of the pipe 18 in moving to open and closed Positi s- The valve .2 is pro i d w th a plurality of openings 23 which, in the closed position of the valve, are disposed exteriorly of the pipe section 18. However when the valve 20 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 it will be apparent that fluid from the cylinder 15 can pass through the pipe section 18, openings 23 and valve 20.

Mounted on the carrier C is a fluid operated motor E which comprises a cylinder 24 having its upper end closed and provlded with an extension 25 having a passage 26 therein communicating at one end with the interior of the cylinder 24. Mounted in the extension 25 with its bore in communication with the passage 26 is a pipe section 27. The outer end of this pipe section 27 is so shaped that as the breech mechanism is moved to closed position it will engage the outer end of the valve 20 and move said valve to open position and at the same time the'bore of the pipe section 27 will enter into connected relation to the bore of the valve 20 so that fluid from the cylinder 15 can exhaust into the cylinder 24. Slidably mounted in the cylinder 24 is a piston 28 including a piston rod 29 which extends downwardly and finds a suitable bearing in the carrier The lower end of the rod 29 is provided with a recess 30 in which is mounted for limited sliding movement a plunger '31 having free engagement with the cross-head device 11 as will be apparent. A buffing element 32 such as leather is interposed between the inner end of the plunger 31 and the inner wall of the recess 30 so as to bufl any sudden engagement between the plunger 31 and the cross-head device 11. The cylinder 24 is provided with an exhaust port 33 so disposed as to exhaust the fluid at the rear of the piston 28 when the latter has completed itsplug locking stroke. In order to delay the action of the piston 28 I mount in the extension 25 a screw 34 which extends into and across the bore of the pipe section 27 so as to throttle the passage of fluid to the cylinder 24. The screw 34 alsO serves to secure the pipe section 27 and the extension 25 in assembled relation. By operating the screw 34 out-. wardly it will be apparent that I can allow free passage of fluid through the pipe section-27 to the cylinder 24 and thus secure quick action of the piston 28. On the other hand by operating the screw 34 inwardly I throttle the passage of fiuid through the pipe section 27 and thus delay the action of the piston 28. Assuming the parts to .be in the position shown in Fig. 1 the breech mechanism is opened by rotating the shaft 10 in the usual manner. During unlocking rotation of the plug B the cross-head device 11 will act on the piston 28 to move the piston to the upper end. of the cylinder. 24. As the carrier C swings outwardly the pipe section 27 williand means for placing the two motors in disconnect from the valve 20 and the latter .lock the same.

will be moved to closed position by the spring 21. To close the breech mechanism fluid is admitted to the cylinder 15 and the resulting movement of the piston 16 will swing the mechanism toward the breech and duringthis movement of the mechanism the pipe section 27 will engage the valve 20 to move the latter to open position and thus connect the cylinder 15 with the cylinder 24 when the fluid in the former will pass into the latter and impart the plug locking stroke to the piston 28. If the swin ing energy of the breech mechanism is suficient to cause the cam devices 13 and 14 to rotate the plug.

breech mechanism be insuflicient to cause the cam devices to rotate the'plug to locked position or only sulficient to bring said cam devices into initial coactive relation then the piston 28 will act directly on the plug to device 11 should move ahead of the plunger 31 and then be subsequently engaged by said plunger before the plug is locked the element 32'will-serve to properly bufl such engagement and preventinjury of the parts. Should it be desired to operate the breech mechanism entirely through the medium of the crank shaft 10 it will be apparent that In the event the cross-head the piston 28 will remain at rest owing to the free engagement between the plunger 31 V and the-cross-head device 11'.

What is claimed is 1. In a gun, the combination ofa movable breech plug, and a motor for'moving the r plug toward locked position, said plug being movable away from and in advance of the motor toward locked position. i

2. In a gun, the combination of a rotatable plug, a motor for rotating the plug toward locked position, and means whereby the plug can move in advanceof and away from the motor toward locked position. 7

3. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a movable breech block, a motor for moving the breech mechanism, a second motor for moving the breech block, and means for operating the second'motor before the action of the first motor ceases.

4. In a gun, the combination of a movable I breech mechanism including a movable breech block, a pressure fluid motor for moving the breech mechanism, a second pressure fluid motor for moving the breech block toward its locked position before the breech mechanism completes its .closing movement,

pressure fluid communication with each other before the breech mechanism completes its closing movement whereby the second motor is operated.

5. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a movable breech block, a pressure fluid motor for mov- J ing the breech mechanism, a second pressure fluidmotor for moving the breech block tov ward its'locked position before the breech I mechanism completes its closing movement, said motors havmg fluid pressure communications therebetween broken when the breech energy of the breech mechanism to plug looking rotation energy, and a motor acting directly on the plug to help rotate the same tolocked position.

7. In a gun, the combination of a movable plug, a motor for moving the plug to locked position, and a bufiing device between the motor and plug, said device having a separable connection with and acting directly on the plug and being acted directly on by the motor.

8. In a gun, the combination of a rotatable plug, a motor for rotating the plug to locked position, and a bufling device between the motor and plug, said device having a separable connection with and acting directly on the plug and being acted directly on by the motor.

9. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, a fluid operated motor for moving the breech mechanism and including a cylinder and piston one of which is pivoted to the gun and the other connected to the breech I mechanism, a second fluid operated motor carried by the breech mechanism for rotating the plug to locked position and including a cylinder and piston, and means for connecting the cylinder of the second motor to the cylinder of the first motor before the mechanism completes its closing movement.

10. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, a fluid operated motor including a cylinder and piston for moving the breech mechanism, a second fluid operated motor carried by the mechanism for rotating the plug tolocked position and including a cylinder and piston, and a slip coupling, one section of which is carried by the cylinder of the first motor and the other section by the cylinder of the second motor, said sections moving into coupled relation before the mechanism completes its closing movement whereby the fluid from the cylinder of the first motor will pass into the cylinder of the second motor to operate the latter.

-11. Ina gun, the combination of a mov able breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, means for rotating the plug to locked position, and a motor for also rotating the plug to locked position, said motor being detached from and normally abutting the plug.

12. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, a motor for rotating the plug to locked position, means for rotating the plug independent of the motor, and a separable connection between the motor and plug whereby the plug can move in advance of and away from the motor when-rotatedto locked po.- sition with sufficient rapidity by said independent means. v

13. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, cam devices for rotating the plug, a motor for also rotating the plug to locked position, a separable connection between the inotorand plug, and means for bufling the contact between the motor and plug when the latter has moved away from the motor under the action of the .cam devices before the effective operation of the motor.

14. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, cam devices for rotating the plug to locked position, a motor for also rotating the plug to locked position, said motor including a cylinder and piston, a separable connection between said piston and plug, and means for bufling the contact between the piston and plug, when the latter has moved away from the piston under the action of the cam devices before the efl'ective operation of the motor.

15. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, a motor for rotating the plug to locked position, said motor including a cylinder and piston, a plunger mounted in the piston for limited sliding movement and engageable with the plug, and a buffing element interposed between the inner end of the plunger and the piston.

16. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a movable plug, and a motor detached from and normally abutting the plug for moving the latter to locked position.

17. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, and a motor detached from and normally abutting the plug for rotating the latter to locked position.

18. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, a store of motive fluid, a pipe leading from said store, a valve in said pipe normally closed when the breech mechanism is open, a motor including a-cylinder and piston carried by the mechanismfor rotating the plug to locked position, and a-pipe leading from the cylinder andadaptedto move into connected relation to the first pipe and to open said valve as the mechanism approaches closed position whereby the motor vvlill be operated to impart rotation tothe pug. c i 19. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, a fluid operated motor inclu-dinga vcylinder and. piston for moving the breech relation to the pipe of the first motor and to open said valve as the mechanism ap proaches closed position'whereby the cylin ders of said motors will be connected and the second motor operated to impart rotation to the plug. 7

- 20. In a gun, thecombination of a mov- Oopies of this patent may be obtained for Witnesses:v

able breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, cam devices for translating the moving energy of the breech mechanism to plug locking rotation, energy, amotorto help rotate the plug to-locked position, and means for delaying the action of said motor ren der same ineffective When the mechan sm is moved toward the breech With sufiiclent force to. cause the cam devices. tolrotate the plug to locked position,

21.111 a gun, the comlbinationof a mov- I able breech mechanism including a rotatable plug, cam devices forqtranslating the moving energy of the breech mechanism to plug locking'rotation energy, I a --fluid operated motor "tohelp rotate the plug tolocked position, and-meansifor throttling'the flow offluid to the motor whereby the caction of same is delayed and rendered ineffective when, the mechanism is moved toward the breech With sufiicient force to'cause the cam devices torotate the plug to locked position. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of tvvosubscribing Witnesses.

, DORSEY FROST! A'SBURY. I

C. G. EVANS, E. STOWELL.

five cents each, byaddressing the "commission er of Patents, Washington, D. G. I v I -v 

